Jeremy Wariner, a junior from Grand Prairie, won gold in the 400-meter race. He and Darold Williamson, a senior from San Antonio, led their team to gold in the 1,600-meter relay event.

The crowd at Baylor watched footage from the athletes' victories and city, county and state officials read proclamations honoring the two. But Wariner, 20, and Williamson, 21, said they are still typical college students.

"I'm still the same person. I'm not going to change a bit. I'm going to go to class and keep practicing," Wariner said.

Also honored was Clyde Hart, who coached Wariner and Williamson as well as Baylor alum Michael Johnson. Johnson still holds the 400-meter world record of 43.18 and won gold medals in the 1996 and 2000 Olympics.

Hart kept his tough approach on Wariner and Williamson in Athens, urging them to skip the opening ceremony to have more time to practice.

"Their focus was on winning the gold medal. I told them their celebration would be after their race," said the 70-year-old Hart, who has coached at Baylor for 41 years.

The Baylor event was among several across the state this week to honor Texas Olympians.

A Saturday procession and rally were planned in Allen for Carly Patterson, the first U.S. woman to win gold in the all-around gymnastics competition since Mary Lou Retton in 1984. Patterson and her fellow U.S. gymnasts won silver in the women's team event.

In Athens last week, Wariner captured the gold medal in the 400 meters with a time of 44 seconds, the fastest time in the world this year.